1. (a) All components of any new or existing underground storage tank (UST) system subject to the provisions of this subchapter shall be designed, installed, and operated in a manner that will prevent releases of regulated substances due to structural failure or corrosion.
2. (b) For all components of any new or existing UST system subject to the provisions of this subchapter which contain, have contained, or will contain a regulated substance, the surfaces of such components which are in direct contact with the regulated substance shall be constructed of or lined with materials that are compatible with the substance stored in such components. Any compatibility determination or analysis shall be in accordance with a code or standard of practice developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory.
3. (c) The owners and operators of UST systems subject to the provisions of this subchapter and those persons and/or business entities who engage in, perform, or supervise the installation, repair, or removal of UST systems shall be responsible for ensuring that those UST systems are designed, installed, repaired, removed, and operated in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter, as provided under §334.12(b) of this title (relating to Other General Provisions) and under the provisions of Chapter 70 of this title (relating to Enforcement).
4. (d) When provisions of this subchapter require compliance with a specific code or standard of practice developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory, the most recent version of the referenced code in effect at the time of the regulated UST activity shall be applicable.
5. (e) Compliance with the provisions of this subchapter shall not relieve an owner or operator of an UST system from compliance with other applicable regulations legally developed by other governmental entities. This requirement is more fully discussed in §334.12(a) of this title.

6. (f) Unless otherwise stated in a variance approved by the agency in accordance with §334.43 of this title (relating to Variances and Alternative Procedures), the requirements of this subchapter shall take precedence if and when such requirements are determined to be in conflict with any provisions contained in the following:

   1. (1) any code or standard of practice developed by a nationally recognized association or independent testing laboratory; and
   2. (2) the manufacturers' specifications and instructions for installation and operation of UST equipment.
7. (g) Any underground component of an UST system installed on or after September 29, 1989, shall be properly protected from corrosion by one or more of the allowable methods in §334.49(b) of this title (relating to Corrosion Protection).

Source Note:The provisions of this §334.42 adopted to be effective September 29, 1989, 14 TexReg 4714; amended to be effective June 25, 1990, 15 TexReg 3424; amended to be effective November 8, 1995, 20 TexReg 8800; amended to be effective November 23, 2000, 25 TexReg 11442.